CASEBOOK: DYSMENORRHOEA; Your life.Byline: By Avril Cadden Dysmenorrhoea dys·men·or·rhe·a also dys·men·or·rhoe·a n. Painful menstruation. [New Latin : dys- + Greek m is the medical name for period pains. During the menstrual cycle menstrual cycle n. The recurring cycle of physiological changes in the uterus, ovaries, and other sexual structures that occur from the beginning of one menstrual period through the beginning of the next. the lining of the womb (uterus) thickens so that if you fall pregnant the fertilised egg can implant. If pregnancy does not occur these thickened cells die and the body releases prostaglandins which cause the muscles in the wall of the uterus to contract to get rid of the cells, causing a period. It is the contractions that cause varying degrees of pain. In women with bad dysmenorrhoea, the uterus is hypersensitive hy·per·sen·si·tive adj. Responding excessively to the stimulus of a foreign agent, such as an allergen; abnormally sensitive. hy and contracts more violently and frequently. There are various treatments. A diet high in Omega 3 oils has been shown to reverse the problem and studies have shown Zinc and thiamine supplements can help. If these don't work, anti-inflammatory drugs and oral contraceptives are used to treat it. |
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